Soon, AICTE to govern management of BBA degree
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) plans to govern the management of the undergraduate degree in Business Administration (BBA) in India, in addition to overseeing MBA degrees, in an effort to improve management education. Currently, the University Grants Commission is responsible for the BBA degree. AICTE Chairman TN Sitharam announced the development at the Indian Management Conclave, stating that changes are likely to be announced in the handbook for the next academic year. This move is expected to streamline administrative processes and facilitate the admission of high-quality students into postgraduate management programs.
During the Indian Management Conclave (IMC) in Mumbai at S P Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) on Saturday, AICTE chairman TN Sitharam announced the development, assuring significant improvements in management education in upcoming academic years.
While taking a review of new-age management education, Sitharam said, “AICTE is planning to make changes in technical and management education. Considering demands from the institutes, AICTE is considering overseeing degree education of management studies very soon.” He added that the changes are likely to be announced in the handbook of the next academic year.
Emphasising the importance of the New Education Policy (NEP) in higher education, Sitharam said, “Implementation of NEP is a long process, but once done properly it will bring major positive changes in the education system in India. For this implementation, we are changing our focus from regulator to facilitator.” Amit Agnihotri, founder of IMC and MBA Universe, said while presenting a white paper titled ‘Pathway for standalone B-Schools’.
An important demand in the white paper is the ‘instinct’ status of MBA institutes that will entail their conversion to degree-awarding universities. In another demand, the B-school management wants to transform Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) institutions into multi-disciplinary universities including undergraduate degree education.
Bharat Bhasker, director, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, highlighted the challenges traditional institutes face in adapting to online education and said the institute is planning to expand its online presence further.
On Sitharam’s statement about the BBA degree course, a dean from a Mumbai-based B-school said, “This would be a welcome move if it’s indeed put into practice. It would facilitate the admission of high-quality students into postgraduate management programs and streamline administrative processes, as it would require approval from a single apex body rather than two separate ones.”
